Seal ring for foil-sealing a container

ABSTRACT

A seal ring for sealing a container. A seal ring has a base including a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and having a top surface, an undersurface opposite the top surface, and a projection extending from the undersurface in an axial direction. The projection is configured to be received by a complementary opening in the container. The seal ring may he part of a package that also includes a container having a mouth, an axially-facing sealing surface, and an opening in the sealing surface, and a foil sealingly and removably coupled to the base of the seal ring.

The present disclosure relates to seal rings and, more particularly, toseal rings for sealing containers, for example, glass containers.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Glass containers often include a base, a finish, and a body extendingtherebetween. The container finish, in turn, includes a sealing surfaceto which a removable foil may be secured in order to seal the container.Prior to securing the foil to the sealing surface, the sealing surfaceis conventionally prepared by, for example, applying a cold end coatingthereto. The coating may be applied in a number of ways including byspray- or roller-coating.

A general object of the present disclosure is to provide a foil-sealedcontainer that does not require that a cold end coating be applied to asealing surface of the container finish to prepare the sealing surfacefor securing the foil thereto.

The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can beimplemented separately from or in combination with each other.

A package, in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure,includes a container including a longitudinal axis extendingtherethrough and having a mouth, an axially-facing sealing surface, andan opening in the sealing surface. The package further includes a sealring having a base with a projection, wherein the projection is receivedin the sealing surface opening thereby securing the ring to thecontainer. The package still further includes a foil sealingly andremovably coupled to the ring.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a seal ringfor sealing a container includes a base including a longitudinal axisextending therethrough and having a top surface, an undersurfaceopposite the top surface, and a projection extending from theundersurface in an axial direction, wherein the projection is configuredto be received by a complementary opening in the container.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present disclosure, a methodof assembling a container and a seal ring includes heating a least aportion of the container to a predetermined temperature sufficient tocause at least a portion of the seal ring to melt When coupled to thecontainer, and coupling the seal ring to the container when thecontainer is at the predetermined temperature such that a portion of theseal ring melts and conforms to a sealing surface of the container. Inan embodiment, the coupling step includes aligning a projection of theseal ring with an opening in the sealing surface of the container, andpressing the seal ring in an axial direction onto the container to pressthe projection into the opening in the sealing surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantagesand aspects thereof, will best be understood from the followingdescription, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package in accordance with anillustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, and including acontainer, a seal ring, and a foil sealingly and removably coupled tothe seal ring;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container of the package of FIG. 1having a seal ring assembled therewith;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of one illustrative embodiment ofthe package of FIG. 1, illustrating the package in an assembled andsealed condition; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart depicting an illustrative embodiment of a methodof assembling a container and a seal ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a package 10 including a container 12, a seal ring 14coupled to or assembled with the container 12, and a foil 16 sealinglyand removably coupled to the seal ring 14. As described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/892,727, filed on May 13, 2013, assigned to theassignee hereof, and hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety, the seal ring 14 and the removable foil 16 are configured toclose and seal the container 12 when the foil 16 is assembled with theseal ring 14, and the seal ring 14 is assembled with the container 12.The package 10 may be used to package any number of goods or products.For instance, the package 10 may be used to package food products, forexample and without limitation, pickles, baby food, salsa, peppers,spaghetti sauces, and jams, to cite a few possibilities. The package 10also may be used to package products other than food products,including, but not limited to, liquids, gels, powders, particles, andthe like. Each of the container 12 and the seal ring 14 include ordefine a respective longitudinal axis (i.e., longitudinal axis A, in thecase of container 12; and longitudinal axis B, in the case of seal ring14) that are coincident with each other when the container 12 and theseal ring 14 are assembled together as illustrated in FIGS.1 and 2.

The container 12 may be composed of glass or any other material suitablefor containing food products, and may comprise a bowl, a jar, or a cup,to cite a few possibilities. With reference to FIG. 2, the container 12includes a base 18 and a body 20 extending from the base 18. In certainembodiments, the container 12 also may include a shoulder (not shown)extending from the body 20 and a neck (not shown) extending from theshoulder or directly from the body 20. In any event, and with referenceto FIG. 3, the container 12 further comprises a finish 22 extendingaxially from the body 20 that includes an open mouth 24 surrounded by asealing lip or surface 26. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the sealing surface26 is an axially-facing surface that faces away from the container body20, and has one or more openings 28 disposed therein. In one embodiment,the one or more openings 28 comprises a single, continuous annularchannel; while in another embodiment, the one or more openings 28 maycomprise a plurality of spaced apart channels, grooves, or pockets thattogether form a discontinuous annular channel or array. In any event,and as will be described in greater detail below, the opening(s) 28is/are sized and shaped to receive and mate with one or morecomplementary projections 42 of the seal ring 14. For purposes ofillustration, the description below will be with respect to anembodiment wherein the one or more openings 28 comprises a single,continuous annular channel in the sealing surface 26, though the presentdisclosure is not limited to such an arrangement.

In addition to the mouth 24 and the sealing surface 26, the containerfinish 22 further may include an external or radially outwardlyextending engagement element 30 that surrounds the mouth 24 and that, inan embodiment, is configured to engage a portion of the seal ring 14when the container 12 and seal ring 14 are assembled together. Theengagement element 30 may comprise, for example and without limitation,a bead (e.g., crown bead), a flange, a lip, or other suitable feature.The engagement element 30 may extend completely circumferentially aroundthe container finish 22; alternatively, it may comprise multiplediscontinuous segments disposed about the circumference of the finish22. The container finish 22 still further includes an inner, radiallyinwardly-facing surface 31 that, in an embodiment, is also configured toengage a portion of the seal ring 14 when the container 12 and the sealring 14 are assembled together.

The seal ring 14 may be of an integral one-piece construction, or of amultiple-piece construction, and may be composed of metal, plastic, orany other material suitable for closing and sealing a container in themanner described herein. When seal ring 14 is assembled with thecontainer 12, the ring 14 encircles the mouth 24 of the container 12.The seal ring 14 is annular with an inner diameter or opening orradially inner periphery, and an outer diameter or radially outerperiphery. Additionally, in an embodiment, the seal ring 14 may beapplied to the container 12 when the sealing surface 26 thereof has atin oxide coating but not a cold end coating that is conventionallyrequired for the foil-sealing of glass containers. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 3, the seal ring 14 includes a base 32, a radiallyouter portion 34, and an inner seal 36.

The base 32 includes a first or top surface 38, and a second orundersurface 40 opposite the top surface 38. The top surface 38 is anaxially-facing surface and comprises a sealing surface to which, as willbe described below, the foil 16 may be coupled. The undersurface 40 isalso an axially-facing surface, however, it faces in an axial directionthat is opposite that in which the top surface 38 faces (i.e., the topsurface 38 and the undersurface 40 face in opposite directions). Thelongitudinal axis B of the seal ring 14 extends perpendicular to a planeextending along one of the base surfaces 38, 40, and centrally withrespect to the outer radial periphery of the seal ring 14.

In addition to the top surface 38 and the undersurface 40, the base 32further includes one or more projections 42 extending in an axialdirection from the undersurface 40. As used herein, the term “axial”includes oriented generally along an axis but is not limited to adirection strictly parallel to the axis, In one embodiment, the one ormore projections 42 comprises a single, continuous annular projection;while in another embodiment, the one or more projections 42 may comprisea plurality of spaced apart projections that together form, for example,a discontinuous annular projection or an array. In any event, theprojection(s) 42 is/are configured to be received within and mated withcomplementary opening(s) 28 in the container finish sealing surface 26.For purposes of illustration, the description below will be with respectto an embodiment wherein the one or more projections 42 comprises asingle, continuous annular projection that is configured for mating withthe annular channel in the container finish sealing surface 26, thoughthe present disclosure is not limited to such an arrangement.

As shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the projection 42includes one or more barbs or protrusions 44 extending radiallytherefrom. As used herein, the term “radial” includes oriented generallyperpendicular to an axis but is not limited to a direction that isstrictly perpendicular to the axis. The barb(s) 44 are configured toengage the inner surface of the channel when the projection 42 isdisposed within the opening 28 (i.e., when the seal ring 14 is assembledwith the container 12) and act to retain the projection 42 therein. Inany event, the mating of the projection 42 and the opening 28 serves tosecure the seal ring 14 to the container 12. In addition to themechanical fit created by the mating of the projection 42 and opening 28securing the seal ring 14 to the container 12, in an embodiment, anadhesive, for example, and without limitation, plastisol or any otherFDA or foodstuff approved material or sealing adhesive material, mayalso be utilized. This adhesive may be applied to one or both of thecontainer finish sealing surface 26 (which may, but does not necessarilyhave to, include the inner surfaces of the opening 28), and/or theundersurface 40 of the seal ring 14. In an embodiment, the coupling orassembly of the seal ring 14 with the container 12 renders the seal ring14 substantially non-removable from the container 12, meaning that, bydesign intent, the seal ring 14 is not intended to be removed from thecontainer 12 without destroying or at least damaging the container 12and/or the seal ring 14.

The radially outer portion 34 of the seal ring 14 extends away from thebase 32 in an axial direction (i.e., in an axial downward direction)such that it is generally perpendicular to the base 32. The outerportion 34 includes an inner surface 46 and an outer surface 48. Theinner surface 46 is configured to engage an outer surface of thecontainer finish 22 when the seal ring 14 is assembled with thecontainer 12. In an embodiment, the radially outer portion 34 may beelastically deformable so as to allow for the coupling of seal ring 14to the container 12 (i.e., the outer portion 34 may be configured todeflect in the manner described below). In another embodiment, theradially outer portion 34 may take the form of the radially outerportion described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/892,727, theentire contents of which were incorporated herein by reference above,and as such, may “snap” over the engagement element 30 of the containerfinish 22. In any case, the radially outer portion 34 may be disposed atthe radially outermost point of the base 32, though the presentdisclosure is not limited to such an arrangement.

The inner seal 36 of the seal ring 14 is operative to provide, at leastin part, a seal between the seal ring 14 and the container 12. The seal36 may comprise any number of seals, for example, a plug seal, a valveseal, or any other suitable seal. For purposes of illustration, thedescription below will be with respect to an embodiment wherein theinner seal 36 comprises a valve seal (i.e., “inner valve seal 36”),though the present disclosure is not limited to such an embodiment. Onebenefit of a valve seal, among potentially others, is that it isconfigured such that the seal created thereby is improved with theapplication of a vacuum to the interior of the container 12 (e.g., asthe pressure inside the container 12 decreases, the seal formed betweenthe inner valve seal 36 and the container 12 is tightened).

As with the outer portion 34 described above, in an embodiment, theinner valve seal 36 includes an inner surface 50 and an outer surface52. The inner surface 50 is configured to engage the mouth 24 of thecontainer finish 22 when the seal ring 14 is assembled with thecontainer 12. More specifically, in an embodiment, the inner valve seal36 may be elastically deformable such that it may be biased into asealing engagement with the mouth 24 or the inner finish surface 31 ofthe container 12, thereby forming a liquid and/or air tight seal betweenthe seal ring 14 and the container 12 (i.e., the valve seal 36 may beconfigured to deflect in the manner described below). In anotherembodiment, the inner valve seal 36 may take the form of the inner sealdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/892,727, the entirecontents of which were incorporated herein by reference above. In anyinstance, the inner valve seal 36 may extends from a radially innermostpoint of the base 32, though the present disclosure is not limited tosuch an arrangement.

As briefly described above, the package 10 further includes the foil 16that is sealingly and removably coupled to the seal ring 14 and thatserves to seal the container 12 when the seal ring 14 and container 12are assembled together. The foil 16 may be composed of any number ofmaterials suitable for hermetically sealing the container 12, including,for example and without limitation, a metallic material (e.g.,aluminum), a polymeric or plastic material (e.g., polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), a paper material (e.g., wax paper), or othermaterial or substrate suitable to form a seal. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 3, the foil 16 is removably and sealingly coupled tothe base 32 of the seal ring 14, and more particularly, to the topsurface 38 of the base 32, which thereby serves as a sealing surface ofboth the seal ring 14 and the package 10 when the seal ring 14 isassembled with the container 12. The foil 16 and the material of theseal ring 14 are closely matched to achieve optimal performance, and thefoil 16 may be coupled to the base 32 of the seal ring 14 using anynumber of techniques, including, for example, induction and conductionsealing techniques, and/or any other suitable technique known in theart. The foil 16 may be coupled to the seal ring 14 prior to assemblingor coupling the seal ring 14 with the container 12, or alternatively,thereafter. As illustrated in FIG. 1, foil 16 may include a tab 54extending from the periphery thereof that is configured to allow a userto remove the foil 16 from the seal ring 14 by pulling the tab 54 awayfrom the seal ring 14 and the container 12.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, an illustrative method of assemblingthe package 10 will now be described.

In a step 102, the foil 16 is coupled to the base 32 of the seal ring14. In one embodiment, step 102 is performed prior to the seal ring 14being coupled to or assembled with the container 12, while in anotherembodiment step 102 is performed after the seal ring 14 and thecontainer 12 are assembled together.

In any event, in a step 104, the seal ring 14 is aligned with the mouth24 and the sealing surface 26 of the container finish 22, and is thenpressed in an axial direction onto the container finish 22. Moreparticularly, in step 104, the projection 42 of the seal ring 14 isaligned with the opening 28 in the container sealing surface 26. Onceproperly aligned, the seal ring 14 is pressed in an axial direction ontothe container finish 22, and the projection 42 is pressed into theopening 28. As the projection is pressed into the opening, the barbs 44of the projection 42 engage the inner surface of the opening 28, therebycreating a mechanical fit between the seal ring 14 and the container 12and securing the seal ring 14 to the container 12. In an embodiment, asthe seal ring 14 is pressed onto the container 12 and the inner valveseal 36 contacts the mouth 24 of the container finish 22, the innervalve seal 36 deflects in a radially inward direction into sealingengagement with the mouth 24 and/or the inner surface 31 of thecontainer finish 22. The valve seal 36 remains biased against the mouth24 or inner finish surface 31 to create a seal between the seal ring 14and the container 12. Additionally, in an embodiment, as the seal ring14 is pressed onto the container 12 and the radially outer portion 34 ofthe seal ring 14 contacts the container sealing surface 26, the outerportion 34 deflects in a radially outward direction into engagement withan outer surface of the container 12, and more particularly, an outersurface of the container finish 22. In an embodiment, step 104 isperformed when the material of the container 12 is at a temperaturesufficient to cause at least a portion of the base 32 of the seal ring14 to melt and more completely conform to the sealing surface 26 of thecontainer finish 22 to form a more complete seal between the seal ring14 and the container 12 (e.g., the seal ring 14 will conform toimperfections in the sealing surface 26, for example).

Accordingly, in an embodiment, the method 100 further may comprise astep 106 of heating the container 12, or at least a portion thereof thatincludes the container finish 22, to a predetermined temperaturesufficient to cause a desired amount of melting of the seal ring 14prior to performing step 104. In an embodiment, step 106 may beperformed during, or comprise a part of, the container manufacturingprocess where the residual heat from that process is sufficient to causeat least a portion of the seal ring 14 to melt. In another embodiment,step 106 may he independent of the container manufacturing process andmay comprise applying heat to the container 12, or at least a portionthereof, immediately prior to performing step 104 of the method 100. Ineither case, the particular temperature required to sufficiently andacceptably melt the seal ring 14 is dependent upon the particularmaterials of which the seal ring 14 and/or the container 12 is/areformed, and may be empirically derived by testing different materialsand combinations of materials to achieve the desired amount of seal ringmelting.

There thus has been disclosed a package that fully satisfies one or moreof the objects and aims previously set forth. The disclosure has beenpresented in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment, andmodifications and variations have been discussed. Other modificationsand variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinaryskill in the art in view of the foregoing discussion. The disclosure isintended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall withinthe spirit and broad scope of tile appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A package that includes: a container including a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and having a mouth, an axially-facing sealing surface, and an opening in said sealing surface; a seal ring having a base with a projection, wherein said projection includes one or more barbs extending radially therefrom and is received in said sealing surface opening thereby securing said seal ring to said container; and a foil sealingly and removably coupled to said ring.
 2. The package set forth in claim 1, wherein said opening comprises an annular channel in said sealing surface, and said projection comprises an annular projection received in said annular channel.
 3. The package set forth in claim 1, wherein said base of said seal ring has a top surface and an undersurface opposite said top surface, and further wherein said foil is coupled to said top surface, and said projection extends from said undersurface in an axial direction.
 4. The package set forth in claim 1, wherein said seal ring further includes an inner seal biased into sealing engagement with said mouth of said container.
 5. The package set forth in claim 1, wherein said seal ring further includes a radially outer portion, and further wherein an inner surface thereof is in engagement with an outer surface of said container.
 6. The package set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is formed of glass.
 7. The package set forth in claim 1, wherein said seal ring is formed of plastic.
 8. The package set forth in claim 1, wherein said seal ring is adhesively affixed to said sealing surface of said container.
 9. The package set forth in claim 1, wherein said opening comprises a channel in said sealing surface extending in an axial direction toward said base of said container relative to the longitudinal axis of said container.
 10. A seal ring for sealing a container, and including: a base including a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and having: a top surface; an undersurface opposite said top surface; and a projection extending from said undersurface in an axial direction, wherein said projection includes one or more barbs extending outwardly therefrom, and further wherein said projection is configured to be received by a complementary opening in the container.
 11. The seal ring set forth in claim 10, further comprising a foil removably coupled to said base.
 12. The seal ring set forth in claim 11, wherein said foil is coupled to said top surface of said base.
 13. The seal ring set forth in claim 10, wherein said projection comprises an annular projection.
 14. The seal ring set forth in claim 10, further comprising an inner seal configured to be biased into sealing engagement with a mouth of the container.
 15. The seal ring set forth in claim 10, wherein said base is formed of plastic.
 16. The seal ring set forth in claim 14, wherein the inner seal comprises a valve seal.
 17. A seal ring for sealing a container, including: a radially outer portion having an inner surface configured to engage an outer surface of the container; and a base including a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and having: a top surface; an undersurface opposite said top surface; and a projection located radially-inwardly of said radially outer portion and extending from said undersurface of said base in an axial direction, said projection configured to be received by a complementary opening in the container; and an inner seal configured to be biased into sealing engagement with a mouth of the container, wherein the inner seal comprises a valve seal.
 18. The seal ring set forth in claim 17, further comprising a foil removably coupled to said base.
 19. The seal ring set forth in claim 18, wherein said foil is coupled to said top surface of said base. 